The Texans approached defensive free agency with a simple strategy, one borrowed from your local trash company: reduce, reuse, recycle. The Texans used the little salary cap they had to re-sign quality veterans on team-friendly contracts while patching together several weaknesses in the front seven and secondary. Houston also restructured several key contracts to build room on the salary cap including Denico Autrys deal and Danielle Hunters extension. With the draft weeks away, its a great time to freshen up on who the Texans added thus far and identify where the gaps are in the defenses. Note: in bold are the newly added or resigned players. Defensive Ends:Starters: Danille Hunter, Will Anderson : Derek Barnett, Darrell Taylor, Dylan HortonDepth: Kingsley Jonathan, Casey Toohill, Solomon ByrdAnalysis: Re-signing Derek Barnett was a fantastic move to open up free agency and bring back our best rotational pass rusher. The addition of Darrell Taylor on a one-year deal attempts to duplicate such success. Look for third-year end Horton to have a big season finally fully recovered from his cancer Tackles:Starters: Tim Settle Jr. , Sheldon RankinsBackups: Denico Autry, Mario Edwards : Tommy Togiai, Kurt Hinish, Jayden PeevyAnalysis: Welcome back Sheldon! The Texans have addressed this positional need with several known veterans. As a whole, there is a lot familiar faces in this group but no standouts. Though, thats DeMeco Ryans defensive approach thus far in the interior. While this position is less of a dire need than before, a new, young face is still necessary to rejuvenate the position long-term. Another name to familiarize yourself with is Tongiai; he quietly played a significant role on the defense in the second half of the season Texans Custom Jersey. Linebackers:Starters: Azeel Al-Shaair, Henry TooTooBackups: Christian Harris, E. J. SpeedDepth: Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Nick NeimannAnalysis: The late entry of E. J. Speed changes my entire complexion on this group. The Texans now have four LBs who have recorded 100+ tackles in a season over the past two years. However, the addition signals legitimate concerns over the health of Christian Harris, who only played three games in 2024. Second-year LB Jamal Hill should develop into a special teams ace and rotational coverage linebacker. Between him and Hansen, the Texans should be set with this core group heading into training camp. Cornerbacks:Starters: Kamari Lassiter, Derek Stingley : Ronald Darby, M. J. StewartDepth: Tremon Smith, DAngelo RossAnalysis: Last years biggest need was duly answered by the sensational Kamari Lassiter, who should have been up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. However as great of a pick as that was, this position lacks depth. The signing of Ronald Darby and Tremon Smith adds special teams talent to this group, but theres a tremendous need for a steady backup. Expect a third or fifth round draft pick expended to quell this HOUSTON #TEXANS HAVE BUILT A SPECIAL DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD They are all under 25-years-old CB Derek Stingley FootballSeptember 16, 2024Safeties:Starters: Jalen Pitre, Calen Bullock, C. J British Brooks Jersey. Gardner-JohnsonBackups: Jimmie WardDepth: Gregory Junior, Russ YeastAnalysis: The trade for Garner-Johnson to replace Eric Murray took much of the urgency out of adding talent to this group. According to Aaron Wilson, Pitre should be back after his pectoral injury and subsequent surgery in time for training camp. Jimmie Ward is in the last year of his contract and at the age of 34 shouldnt be considered a starting safety for the team. Houston released Brandon Hill due to a failed physical, which steals from some of the upper-echelon potential out of this group. The Texans should be set from a short-term perspective, but another complimentary defensive back should be in the cards soon. Overall, the Texans defense has a fantastic blend of elite and young talent with savvy veterans to fill in the roles. They could use another rotational defensive tackle and backup corner, but outside of that are ready to rock heading into a critical season in the C. J. Stroud era.